Plant support



March 1944- o. L. BRUMFIELD 2,345,455

PLANT SUPPORT Filed Oct. 14, 1942 g m UUL BI um/Z'e Z1 Patented Mar. 28, 1944 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 2 Claims.

This invention relates to a novel means for bracing or supporting a plurality of plants or trees from a single standard or the like.

More specifically, it is aimed to provide a novel type of arm with plant engaging means and a novel type of clamp for securing the arm or arms to a standard or upright.

The more specific objects and advantages will become apparent from a consideration of the description following taken in connection with accompanying drawing illustrating an operative embodiment.

In said drawing:

Figure 1 is a view in elevation showing the structure bracing or supporting two plants;

Figure 2 is a horizontal section taken on the plane of line 2-2 of Figure l and Figure 3 is a vertical detail section taken on the plane of line 3-3 of Figure 1.

Referring specifically to the drawing wherein like reference characters designate like or similar parts, designates a standard or upright of any suitable construction which may be a section of metallic pipe.

The standard is adapted to be inserted or driven into the ground II for supporting the device in an upright position.

Adjustable vertically and laterally with respect to the standard Ill are a plurality of plant-bracing arms generally designated 12. A generally U- shaped clamp 13 surrounds the standard 10 and is vertically and laterally adjustable on the standard. The latter has alined openings M at different elevations between its closed end 15 and the standard so that they may be clamped between and to such parts. To this end, the terminals of the clamp l3 are divergent or spread outwardly at l6 and turned in or reentered at 11. Located between the portions l6 and I1 and abutting the shoulders provided by the latter is a plate l8, either fixed or removable with respect to the clamp and to which a binding screw 19 is screwthreaded and adapted for engagement against the standard in opposition to the arms. Screw 19 to facilitate manual manipulation thereof has handle portions for projections at 20.

Reverting to the plant-bracing arms 12, each consists of a straight rod 2| which is directly adjustably slidable in the openings l4 and a pair of resilient rods 22, suitably fastened as by welding at 23 to the rods 2|. Rods 22 have diverging portions at 24 terminating in jaws 25 having inturned lugs at 26. The jaws 25 mount plant engaging heads 21. Each head consists of a pair of separable blocks 28, for instance of wood or any other suitable material. One block of each pair is completely surrounded by the jaws and the other block of that pair has sockets at 29 into which the jaws 25 resiliently snap. The jaws have a clasp action on the blocks and are detachably entered in grooves 30 at the back and sides of one of the blocks and grooves 3| at the sides of the other block. The jaws are shown in their normal position in the drawing and are so held and against accidental displacement by means of slidable links or loops 32 coacting with the diverging or inclined portions 24.

The heads 21 or blocks 28 collectively provide central openings at 33 in which the plants 34 are loosely disposed for support or bracing, without danger of bruising or injury thereto.

It will be seen that after the standard 10 and arms 12 have been positioned, heads 21 may be applied to the plants, or a reverse order of application may be resorted to. The links 32 are moved inwardly off of the portions 24 and the jaws separated to release the blocks 28, whereupon such blocks are applied around the plant with the latter received in the openings 33, following which the jaws are restored to the grooves 30 and 3| and lugs 26 entered in sockets 29. The links 32 are then moved outwardly with respect to the standard Ill and on to the portions 24 to tighten the jaws with respect to the blocks.

Various changes may be resorted to provided they fall within the spirit and scope of the invention.

I claim as my invention:

1. Plant supporting means comprising an arm having jaws, separable blocks to surround a plant, said blocks having grooves interfitted by said jaws, one of the blocks having sockets, the terminals of the jaws being disposed in said sockets, diverging portions adjacent to the jaws, and means slidable on said portions to prevent accidental separation of the jaws.

2. Plant supporting means comprising an arm having jaws, separabl blocks to surround the plant, said blocks having grooves interfitted by said jaws, one of the blocks having sockets, the terminals of the jaws being disposed in said sockets, diverging portions adjacent to the jaws, and means slidable on said portions to prevent accidental separation of the jaws, a rod from which the arm extends, a clamp having openings therethrough in which the rod is disposed, a standard surrounded by the clamp, a plate on the clamp opposed to the rod, and binding means operable in the plate to clamp the rod and clamp to the standard.

ORLANDO L. BRUMFIELD. 

